Slip-in closure and cigarette holder for tab-opening beer cans



C. J. DAMARO SLIP-1N CLOSURE AND CIGARETTE HOLDER Jan. 23, 1968 FOR TAB-OPENING BEER CANS Filed March 2l, 1966 United States Patent O s 364 937 SLIP-1N cLosURE AND CIGARETTE HOLDER FoR TAB-OPENING BEER cANs C. John DAmaro, 21 Laurel Drive, Scranton, Pa. 18505 Filed Mar. 21, 1966, ser. No. 536,021 s claims. (ci. isi-257) This invention relates to a slip-in closure for cans, and more particularly to such a closure for tab-opening beer cans, which closure also can serve as a cigarette holder, thus converting the empty discarded can into a smokers receptacle.

The metal containers or cans, of the type commonly used for canned beer which have a tab opening on their upper surface, forming an integral part of the can, are well known. Such cans are usually discarded after their original contents have been consumed, and discarded cans of this character which have no apparent value or usefulness are usually disposed of with other rubbish.

Furthermore, when the tab is removed for access to the contents of such cans, such tab is deformed so that it cannot be easily or conveniently replaced as a cover or to keep out cigarette ashes or dust from the interior of the can, for example if the beer in the can is not immediately Consumed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closure for self-opening tab type beer cans which closure can conveniently be slipped into place into the opening left when the tab is removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slipin closure for a tab opening container which can serve as a cigarette holder after the contents of the can are emptied, thus converting the can into a smokers receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slipin closure of the type described, which has surfaces thereon capable of having advertising material applied thereto. Still another object of the invention is to provide a beer can closure which is capable of supporting a cigarette so that the ashes thereof drop directly through the opening remaining in a tab opening beer can after the tab has been removed, and which closure can be adjusted to close said opening to prevent smoke from the ashes from within the can from issuing outwardly therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive unit for converting a discarded beer container into a disposable refuse depository and which will also form an advertising medium.

To these ends and in accordance with one feature of the invention, a plate of generally triangular shape, which forms the covering portion, is orthogonally fastened to a handle member, the handle member having a valleyshaped surface capable of holding a cigarette parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. The entire closure member may be slipped into the beer can opening and positioned so that it can be pivoted on the junction between the closing portion and the handle portion, the surface of the can forming a pivot support at the narrowest part of the can opening. The surface of the handle portion may be provided with advertising material.

Further objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from, and will be mentioned in, the following description in conjunction with the embodiment of a slip-in closure for cans according to the invention, illustrated by way of example only on the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a typical can top and the novel closure member according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembled can and closure member, the latter being shown in solid lines in closed position and in phantom lines in the cigarette-holding position;

3,364,937 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 ice FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, showing a cigarette in phantom lines resting on the holder;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the can top and closurel member as viewed from inside the can, taken along the 4line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3, showing an embodiment wherein the fastening means are a rivet having bent lugs for fastening the underneath closure plate portion to the cigaretteholder handle portion; and

FIG. 6 is -a view somewhat similar to that of FIG. 5, but of another embodiment wherein the fastening means are a spot weld.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same or functionally similar parts throughout the various figures.

In FIG. 1 the numeral 10 designates the metal container from which the tab (not shown) has been removed to expose the opening 12, here of a generally keyhole shape with a centrally located smaller opening end 14. Cans of this type are usually constructed with raised ridges 16, 16 extending along each side of the keyhole shaped opening 12 which serve to reinforce the can top at the sides of the opening.

The novel slip-in closure and cigarette-holder member according to the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 20, and comprises a generally triangular shaped closure plate portion 22 and a handle portion 24. The two portions 22 and 24 are fastened together at 26 nonrotatably in mutually orthogonal directions, i.e. the central axis of portion 2.4 extends generally at an angle to the central axis of portion 22 but lies in a plane spaced above the plane of portion 22, so that the two axes do not intersect each other. This construction defines a narrow space at each side of the pivot point at 26 into which the can top 28 can fit, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. j In addition to the raised ridges 16, 16, 4the can top 28, for reinforcing purposes, is usually constructed with a depressed area 30, defining a major portion of a circle. The depressed area 30 denes terminal ends 32 thereof and conveniently serves to press against the upper surface of plate 22 for a tighter fit than if the cover 28 all lay in a single plane. The ends 32 also serve as temporary barriers on each side of the triangular plate 22 when the latter is in the position underlying the opening 12, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The generally triangular cover member 22 is of a width which adequately spans the widest point of the opening 12, and yet is not so wide that it would give n'se -to diiculty to prevent its easy positioning into the slot 12 and turning it until the pivot 26 rests within the opening 14. The handle member 24 preferably is made with a central valley or trough 34 located between two hills 36 of gradually diminishing height tapering downwardly toward the center point 26. The respective lateral surfaces 38, 38 of the hill .portions 36 are at and sloping, and each denes a notch 40 engageable with the upper rim 42 of the can 10 for guidance and support of the handle 24, and thus of the entire closure member 20. The hat sloping surface 38, on each side of the notch 40, as well as the inwardly sloping surfaces from the hills 36 to the valley 34 provide surfaces to which advertising material can be applied.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the junction between the members 22 and 24 includes a formed cup or button 44 in at least the plate member 22. The cup or button 44 extends upwardly and ts snugly into the circular portion 14 of the can opening 12, thus deining a convenient pivot for the entire closure member 20 when the latter is slipped into position. Of course, a cup or lbutton can also be located in addition on the lowermost portion of the Y 3 inward end 26 of member 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, so that either or both of the closure portions 22 or 24 may contain the button means which ts snugly into the pivot hole 14.

The cigarette, shown in phantom lines at 50 in FIG. 3, rests in the valley 34, extending over the junction or pivot point 26, so that the cigarette ash can drop down through the opening 12 When the handle portion is in the position 24a as shown in FIG. 3 and in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

The fastening means 26 which are employed to join the 4members 22 and 24, While including a formed pivot button 44, may have a rivet With bent lugs 54, 56, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or instead may have a spot-Weld 58 as shown in FIG. 6.

The novel closure member 20 according to the invention is inserted into the opened can as follows. Handle 24 is held so that the axis of the generally triangular member 22 is substantially vertical. The handle 24 is then maneuvered until the lip or ange 60 of the pivot rests above the can cover 28 at 14, While the plate is moved through the opening 12 into a horizontal position Ibelovv the cover 28 and the button 44 extends through the hole portion 14. The notches 40 then are placed in position over the can rim 42.

To open the closure, the handle 24 is rotated about the pivot hole 14 from the position 24 shown in solid lines'in FIG. 2 to the position 24a shown in phantom lines, during which the closure plate 22 will be rotated 90 degrees to the position 22a, thus leaving the opening 1 2 free to receive cigarette ashes therethrough and the trough 34 in position to serve as a cigarette holder.

Certain modifications can be added to the foregoing, for example instead of the lugs 54, 56, a hole with peripheral serrations may be punched into each of the members 22 and 24 at the junction point 26 and a rivet inserted, the serrations serving to prevent the members 22 and 24 from rotating relative to each other.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art upon a study of this disclosure, that this invention permits of various modifications and alterations with respect to the individual components and arrangements disclosed, and hence can be embodied in apparatus and devices other than as particularly illustrated and described herein, Without departing from the essential features of the invention and Within the spirit and scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. A slip-in closure device for the tops of tab-opening type cans, comprising a closure portion and a handle portion non-rotatably joined to each other to define a junction therebetween, and means dening a space adjacent said junction for receiving a part of the can top so that the device is supported on the latter. i

2. A closure device according to claim 1, said closure.

portion and said handle portion each dening respective central axes lying in different planes.

3. A closure device according to claim 1, said Vclosure portion and said handle portion having respective longitudinal axes disposed substantially at right angles to each other.

4. A closure device according to claim 1, said handle portion beingprovided with a longitudinal Valley portion vcapable of holding a cigarette.

5. A closure device according to claim 1, including fastening means at said junction,V said fastening means including pivot button means formed in at least one of said portions.

6. A closure member according to claim 1, said handle portion having lateral notches engageable with an upper edge of the can for guidance of the handle member.

7. A closure devicev according to claim 5, said fastening means comprising a weld.

8. A closure device according to claim 5, said fastening means comprising a rivet extending through said pivot button means.

References Cited SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

1. A SLIP-IN CLOSURE DEVICE FOR THE TOPS OF TAB-OPENING TYPE CANS, COMPRISING A CLOSURE PORTION AND A HANDLE PORTION NON-ROTATABLY JOINED TO EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A JUNCTION THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS DEFINING A SPACE ADJACENT SAID JUNCTION FOR RECEIVING A PART OF THE CAN TOP SO THAT THE DEVICE IS SUPPORTED ON THE LATTER. 